Return trap



K Dec. 8, 1931.

J. FRASER, JR., ET AL RETURN TRAP Filed Aug. 9, 1928 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED YSTATES PATENT OFFICE v JOHN FRASER, JR., AND FRANK HUTCHINSON, OF IEILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIG-NORS TO MILWAUKEE VALVE COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN RETURN TRAP Application led August 9, 1928. Serial No. 298,567.

n This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in returntraps and refers more particularly to that type ot trap especially adapted for use with boilers ot heating systems.

In heating' systems of the steam, vapor, and the like types, it is customary to provide a return trap to equalize the pressure within the returnline piping and the boiler; and this invention has asone of its objects the provision of a return trap of the character described in which the operating parts are positively actuated and not dependent upon springs.

' sides in the provision of a return trap for parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly deiined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of our invention constructed according to the best mode we have so far devised for the practical application of the Y principles thereof, and in which:

open;v

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view,

vtaken through a return trap embodying our invention, the parts being illustrated with the steam valve-closed and the vent valve Figurev 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the parts in the opposite position, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-8 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate parts throughout the several views,A 5 is a fluid receptacle or body having an inlet pipe 6 threaded in an aperture 7 formed in its bottom wall, which connects the receptacle with the return line piping of a heating system, not shown, the water returning from the system rising up into the receptacle as is customary. A cover member 8 is secured to the flanged upper end 9 oi the receptacle by cap screws 10 and is provided with a steam inlet port 12 with which a pipe 18 communicates to connect the port with the supply main of the heating system, not shown. A vent port 14 is also formed in the cover member and has a pipe 15 connected thereto to connect the port with an air outlet valve, not shown.

The lower or inner face of the cover 9 is provided with a boss to which the iange 16 of a mounting member is secured by cap screws 17, the mounting member having downwardly projected spaced arms 18, the outer ends of which pivotally mount the actuating mechanism of a vent valve 19 and 'a steam valve 20. The valves 19 and 2O cooperate with valve seats 21 formed at the lower periphery of apertures 22 in the flange 16 of the mounting member and align with the ports 14 and 12 respectively. Each valve -member 25 is positioned between the arms 18 of the mounting member and is pivotally connected therewith by a pivot pin 27 located medially of 'the pivotal connections 26, whereby movement ot the lever member 25 coordinates the operation of the valves 19 and 20 to close one as the other opens and vice versa.

One lend of the lever member is elongated and directed laterally to provide a iinger 28, which is engaged by thearms 29 of an A shaped trip fork 30, pivotally mounted adjacent its apex by the pivot pin 27. A weight'l is carried by the trip fork adjacent its apex and its position 'with respect to the pivot 27 and the arms 29 is such that when the vent valve 19 opens and the steam valve 2() closes, as illustratedin VFigure 1, the center ofgravityv of the weight andtrip fork moves to the left of the verticalv center line of the pivot 27 to engage its upper arm 29 with the linger 28 of the lever 25 and maintain the valves in this position by gravity.

Pivotally connected with the lower arm 29 of the trip fork at a medial point 32 is a rod 33 on'w-hi'ch afloat 34 is ireely'slfidable to rise and fall with'the level of the iiuid within the receptacle; the lower portion of therod 33 being guided in an aperture 35 formed in a 'cross bar l36extended acrossv the aperture 7 and having astop member -37 suitably secured thereto to limit the downward movement of the A'li'oat 34.

",Upwardly extended from the arms 24 of the :leve-r member Vdirectly above the pivotal vmounting 27' is a pair of upstanding spaced arms 88 carrying a stop member '39 between their 'outer ends which has a tit or projection ext-ended therefrom to receive Vone end of an VAelapansile spring 40.'V The vother end-of the spring engages -a like 'member 41, mounted between the 'arms 1S' inI vertical alignment with the 'axis of the pivot 2T, the spring being 'in 'compression at allf'times. As thelarms 38 extend at right `angles to the lever member, the ends thereoi, during periods of rest 'of the parts, are either to one side-or the fother oi Van imaginary line drawn through the pivot 27 'and member 41, depending upon the position of 'the valves, which permits the energy `lof the spring to aid lthe weight in maintaining the parts thus, the spring also Itva-king up iall wear on the moving elements. It desired a water column 42 may be provided to display the -fluid level within the receptacle.

"The operation of the return trapis simple and positive, as when 'the heating system with which the "trap is used is operating under a very low pressure, or under atmospheric fpressure'only, the trap acts as a receiver and :air vent, but when the -boiler pressure increases the fluidV level within the trap rises and with it'the iioat 34. As the float rises its 'upper portion abuts theouter extremity of thelowerarm of the strip form-,raising 'it "to tip the centerof gravity `of the weight to -the right side (with :respect to Figures 1 andi2) of the verticalcenter line ofthe pivot 27'. 'The weight then drops to its opposite'position, engaging thev lower varm fof-'the -forkwith the finger 28 of the lever member, actuating'the same to close theven't'valve line piping.

and open the steam valve 20. The pressure in the boiler and the trap is then equalized and the fluid within the receptacle falls by gravity back into the boiler without collecting in the return mains or risers regardless of the boiler pressure.'A As-theffluid within the l receptacle Ais discharged, the iio'at drops to the bottom of Vthe trap abutting the stop 37 andagain opening the vent valve and closing the steam valve, this action being repeated as long as there-is a diierential'in the pressure between the boiler and the return Erom the foregoing descriptiom'taken in connection with V'the accompanying drawings,- it: will be .readily ,apparentto those skilled in the-art tofwhich gan invention of his character -appertains that we provide a return trap for boilers in which the actuating means are positive in operation, not dependent'uponspr-in'gs and inwhich theelements arewholly'enelosed within a receptacle.

l/Vhat we claim asour invention is:

l.. In ya ret-urn trap,a iiuid receptacle, a cover member for the receptacle having a pair of ports, a mounting plate on the inner wall of the cover member and havingropen ings aligned with and providing valve seats for the ports, valves for said ports, an, arm projected from the mounting platev between said ports, a member pivotally mountedffrom said arm and pivotally connected with the valves whereby one is closed whilethe other is open, and a substantially .A shaped for-k member pivotally mounted from .said arm in axial :alignment with the pivotalv mounting ot said member connecting the valves, .an abutment carried =at :one end of said member Vconnecting the valves, the ends of the A shaped fork member-being dispesedon opposite sides lof said :abutment .and engageable therewith to move the member con-necting the valvesabout its pivotal mounting to impar-'t la corresponding movement to r-tlie valves, la weight vconnectedwithxthe :fork member for @maintaining the fsame in either -of two positions', and' la ioat connected with the fork member -ormoving the same.

2. In a return trap, a ifluid receptacle, a

cover member for the :receptacle having a :pair of. ports, a mounting plate secured to the underside of the cover member yand having openings providing valve seats for said ports, valves forv the ports engageable with said seats, an arm disposed -between 4the openings forming the valvesea'ts and extending-downwardly 'from'fthe mounting plate, a member pivotally mounted at the kouter end of the arm and connecting the valves whereby 'one isclosedwhiie the other 'is lopen, co 'operating means carried by the arm and lsaid member Aiforyieldably maintaining said mem- VVber infeiftheroi two positions, one endot said member being extended, and oiset to .form

an abutment, 4a .substantiallysA shaped orli member pivotally mounted' from the outer end of the arm in aXial alignment with the pivotal mounting of said member, the ends of the A shaped fork member being dis-- posed on opposite sides of said abutment to enga-ge the abutment and move the member connecting the valves to and from its two positions, a weight mounted at the apex of said shaped fork member and adapted to pass to either lside of a vertical line drawn through the pivotal mounting of the fork member to hold the fork member in either of two positions by gravity, and ioat means for moving the fork member.

3. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having a pair of ports, valves for the ports, a member connecting the valves, a member having spaced arms one lying on each side of a part carried by the member connecting the valves, a common pivot pin pivotally mounting the member connecting the valves and the member having spaced' arms for pivotal movement about a common axis, said pivot pin mounting the member connecting the valves at a point between the valves so that pivotal movement of said member simultaneously opens one valve and closes the other, a Weight carried by the member having spaced arms for retaining the same in either of two positions engaging either one or the other of its arms With said part carried by the member connecting the valves, and a float connected with the member havo ing spaced arms and operable to move the same from one position to another, movement of said member having spaced arms in one direction moving the member connecting the valves in one direction and movement of the member having spaced arms in an opposite direction moving said member connecting the valves in an opposite direction whereby the float controls the position of the valves.

In testimony whereof We hereunto afiix our signatures.

FRANK HUTCHINSON. JOHN FRASER, JR. 

